Adjustable bar, frame thresher screen



June 24, 1947- w. A. HoLTzMAN ADJUSTABLE BAR, FRAME THRESHER SCREEN 4 sheets-sheet 1 `Filed May 21, 1942 June 24,1947. WA, HOLTZMAN 2,423,026

ADJUSTABLE BAR, FRAME THRESHER SCREEN Filed May 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2&9 7 fa g faz U U U H gv f L .u z'a f4 2 L t l j W63 June 24, 1947- w. A. HoLTzMAN 2,423,026

ADJUSTABLE BAR, FRAME THRESHER SCREEN Filed May 21; 1942 4 sheets-Sheet ,s

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Patented June 24, i947 UNITED `srl-Arras PATENT o-F'FICE William A. LHltzman, Peoria, Ill., assign'or to Hart-Carter' Company, Peoria, Ill., a corporationl ofDelaWare Amin-cation May 21, 1942', serial-N0. 443,919 4i claims. (c1. 209-394) This isa continuation-impart of my copending applicationV Serial No. 416036, iiled October 22, 19t-2l for Steel frame 4thresher screen.

This invention relatesV toj thresher screens such as are employed in grain threshers or combined harvester threshers.

Heretofore the' frames of such screens' Vhave been commonly made of wood because .this material, when `of good quality', made a satisfactory frame for ordinary uses' 'and could be readily repaired inV the iiel'd by ordinary tools' in the handsof farm mechanics; However, .the growing use of combined' harvester threshers with greatly increased harvester speed'sand the stresses' and strain or rapid'transportation over rough ground, together with increased diiculties in .getting proper quality lumber for frames, has indicated theY need for stronger, stiffer and bettertting thresher screens.

The' particular object of this' invention is to provide a structure for steel frame thresher screens whichiis strongy and vlight and" may be madeupin a Wide variety of accurate sizes from the same' tools and' which may be quickly and easily repaired' bya'rm mechanics with ordinary tools.

Another Objectis to provide adjustment'inechanism forsteel frame screens which maybe mounted within the frames but' independent of y the frames and without the necessity of any. addiu Fig. A is ,an enlarged perspective-view of a steel reiniorcementInemloer-,asA will later `be explained; Fig; Eris: afbreken', crossfsectional, elevational view cfthe side. frame showing the cross wires mounted in support notchess as would appear on .the section line5'5' of Figi. 1l;

Fig. dsffabrokenside elevational View, partly 'in section;- showing the center frame member Vand-"fits mountingv o n the end members of the Fi 'rA 'ispanend4 sectional eievationai view of the center' rnerrloer showing aj cross wirev with 2 t adjustment crank,A aswoulri appear onfthe section lil'ie'TF-I OF'g; f o

Fig.` 8 is a broken underneath plan View of the frame corner with partial assembly shown in dottedv outliney as Will later be explained;

Flip.` 9 .is an upright section :of 'the `frame corner,V as would appear on `the li'ne' B-B of Fig'. 8j;

Figi. L() is developed .pla'n ViewY of fthe end frame membenJlater'to be explained;

Fig'. '111*` is `an enlargedy broken side elevational viewshowing the screen 'adjustment-device;

Figi. I2-is1 a bottom piani view of the broken section shownin Fig'. 11;'

Fig. '13is acrosslrsectional and! .elevational view showing'th'e adjustment mechanism asit `appears on the section? 1in lf3- 13" .of Fig. .171?

Figi. I4 is an enlare'd fragmentary' end felvational vie-w' showing an alternative fornr of .central railandA adjlis'tin'entrdevice Fig-l. 157 a bottoni planl View' of the fraglment'ary sectionV shown: Figi 14s.;

Fig. 16 is fragmentary part sectional and Vpart elevational# View of thel adjustment mechanismtaken'- in' a plane represented lay l`in'e lGe-ll' in Fig. 111ioiithed iaitin'g's;-

Fig; 15T isa fragmentary perspective' vewfof an end portion of part of the alternati-tiefiofnr-` of centralfrail; andi y Y 18 isla' fragmentary' parti seijnal rdpav't elevational View of an alter-nativforriof=cntfa1 rail.

New' referringto-theA-drawings, 'I designate' the side rails` of theY th-reslir screen tl'ier-irnral |55; The' Grid I'a-ls [BT alteT attached' to? the s'de rails with a cornerrinforcement member' F1, as Will laterbefexplainedj inf greaterzdetaill. V

VReferringtoFigs". 2 andl, itwill-heoserved that thev end rail liti islricade in-"a" general rectangular tubular section YWithf toti-I `extending flanges IGt' and' ilbL extending` inwardly therefrom'. It will berundersteodthat theYAY rails fI 5 are made-insimilar section, hav-ing inwardly' extend#- ing'langes I-'d andth; However; the side rails lli1 have circular i'ndent'a'ti'onsA Hin ernloos'sd downwardly in 'the-topf of "theflanges "Ilrand --Bb to form `pvot sockets for'the slat' wires-I8',- as clearly' shown; Any'suitalle means, Vsuch` as a plateV itc',` maiyl beheld oifer these sockets- 'by suitablesecuring` means 5to" prevent the ends oi' the* Wires I8 f-rcrnf being?? displacedC therefrom under normal operatingfcnditins; Extend-ing crosswise` in thel center of th" frarneis aceritral `rail4 made up of two sectionsfglland fwliich may be oi Wood, metal, onany othe'i` sitahle material joined together by any suitable securing element 22, such as screws, bolts or the like, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. This central rail is fastened to the frame by rivets 23 extending through the sections I 5a and |619 of the end rails, as clearly shown in Fig.`6. It will be appreciated that these rivets 23 hold merely the bottom member 2|, and the top section 20 may be removed with any suitable tool by removing the securing element 22, whereupon the cross wires I 8, having central cranks I8c, may be removed for repairs or replacements of the slats I9.

The adjustment mechanism for the sieve slats will be explained later in connection with Figs. l1, 12, and 13.

Referring to Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10, it will be ob` served that the steel corner reinforcement member |'I is made with square corners in accurate square conformation. This reinforcement section is inserted in the hollow corner and, as will be observed by a study of Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10, the square corner section permits the rails I5 and I 3 t be assembled with accurate square corners and with the holes |671. and |62- in alignment where they may be securely held by the through rivets l24h. It will be observed that the ends of the rails I and I6 are arranged to abut and overlap each other to effect a stiff, interlocked corner. I show in Fig. 10 the ilat, developed plan view of the end rails I6, and I Wish to explain that the entire end of the rails I6, including the hole I6, is cut with a die to effect accurate corner conguration of the rail. The side rails I5 have square ends and therefore the hole Ih, only, is punched in accurate relationship with the square ends. By observing Figs. 8, 9 and 10 it will be seen how the rails are interconnected with the at section Isf of the rail I6 extended as shown in dotted outline in Figs. 8 and 9. When assembled and riveted in accurate position the section I6f is folded over, and the entire assembly spot-welded together, as indicated at spots marked W, Fig. 8.

An analysis of this structure will show that the stiiener members II contribute largely to the stiffness of the assembly because they are inserted at the point of greatest strain, namely the corners.

However, in some installations, particularly with small screens, the stiiener member I'I may Y be left out, thus sacrificing strength for lightness.

It will be further observed that my rails are formed by bending operations which may be performed with any length of rail desired. Therefore, in order to make different size screens it is necessary to adjust only the length of the rails, and thus screens of various sizes may be constructed with the same set of tools.

It will also be observed that the cross wire indentations |511. and the side rails effectively prevent shifting of the extended anges I5a, and |51), especially when these flanges are spot-welded together. Inwardly extending flanges I5a-I5b and ISa-I 6b are important elements in my novel structure because they permit not only eifective fastening together of the rails and the mounting of the cross wires IB of the slats I9, but by their very nature permit field repairs with ordinary tools in the hands of a farm mechanic.

It will be appreciated that in high-speed, combined harvester threshers, the screens must fit accuratelyand firmly in position in order to effectively utilize the air blast and withstand seyvere service strains.

Now referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, I will describe my slat adjustment mechanism which is mounted entirely on the center rail 2|. Into the cranks I 8c of the cross wires I8 I mount the adjustment rack 24 by means of the spaced slots 24s. The rack 24 is welded to a control arm 25 by a butt weld 241,0 and the control arm 25 is held in adjustable position by the slot plate 26, fixed to the rail 2| by screws 2l. .The fastening is made by a thumb bolt 28 through the slots 26s. The extended down-curved end 25h serves as a handle to move the rack 24 to any desired adjustment of the slats.

Referring to Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 and 18, showing alternative forms of central rails and f slat adjustment mechanisms, the central rail may comprise an angle bar 20a, of metal or the like, to which is suitably secured, as by screws, bolts, or the like, a bar 20h (Fig. 16) which may be of wood, composition, or the like, or an angle bar 20c (Fig. 18) which may be of metal, or other materials. Each end of the bar 20a has a laterally bent ear 20d provided with a suitable aperture 29 for the reception of a securing element, such as a bolt 20e, for fastening the bar 20a to the end rails I6 (see Figs. 14 and 15).

The lower or depending portion of the bar 20a is provided with slots 20h through which extend and in which rotate the wires I8. As in the other forms these wires have cranks IBc carrying the adjustable racks 24. These depending portions of the bars 20a, also have apertures 23g for the passage of bolts or the like 201 which act as detachable securing means for lower bars 3U extending along the lower portions of the bars 20a.

f The upper edge of each bar 30 has slots 30a to act as bearings for the wires I8 adjacent the slots 20h.

To the lower edge of the bar 30 is secured, as by welding 3| (see Fig. 16) an angle bracket 32, the horizontal arm of which carries a pivot stud 33 which may be tightened into clamping condition by a thumb nut 34. Pivotally mounted on this stud 33 is a control arm 35 which may be angularly adjusted about the axis of the stud 33 and held in adjusted position by tightening the thumb nut 34. This control arm 35 corresponds to the control arm 25 in the form of the device shown and described.

To the side of the adjustable bar or rack 24 is secured, as by rivets 36, an angle bracket 3l located opposite the angle bracket 32, and having its lower arm extending in an opposite direction from the lower arm of the angle bracket 32 for a purpose later explained. The lower arm of the bracket 3'I has secured to it a pivot stud 38 having its shank 39 extending downward through a slot 4D provided in the control arm 35 (see Fig. 1

To adjust the rack 2'4, and hence the wires I8, the thumb nut 34 is loosened and the control arm 35 swung to the desired position, such as to that shown in Fig. 15, and the thumb nut then tightened to clamp the control arm 35 into adjusted position. In adjusting when the arm 35 is swung it moves the stub 39 and the bracket 31 to which it is secured, and hence the rack bar 24 to which the bracket 3l is secured.

The above structure is vdesigned to be easily and simply assembled and disassembled. Whenever it is desired to make a repair, as by replacing a wire I8 which may have become broken or otherwise damaged, the bolts 20e are removed to detach the bar 20a therefrom, and the bolts 20e are also removed to detach the bar 20w-20h or 20w-20c therefrom. The latter is then raised from the assembly, thus freeing the wires i8. The wire I8 to be removed is then lifted out and another put in its place, and the parts removed then easily bolted back in place.

Since the ends of the wires i8 in their bearing sockets |51 are preferably covered by the retaining plates |50, to remove a wire, as above mentioned, it is only necessary to slightly upwardly bow the intermediate portion of the wire whereat the ends of the wire' slip out axially from its bearing sockets i511.. The same process is used conversely to insert a new wire.

I claim:

1. In a thresher screen having side and end rails formed in hollow rectangular sections with inwardly extending flanges, pivot sockets embossed in the anges of the side rails, pivotally adjustable cross wires having adjustment cranks and mounted in the sockets, sieve slats mounted on the wires, a rail removably mounted on the frame for holding the cross wires and slats in operative positonand for permitting their removal for replacement and repairs, an adjustment rack mounted in the cranks of the cross wires, a control arm connected to the rack, and adjustable anchor means mounted on the removable rail to hold the rack and slats in adjusted position, the arrangement providing adjustment mechanisms mounted on the removable rail independent of the frame to permit removal of the slats for replacement and repairs.

2. In a thresher screen having side and end rails formed in hollow rectangular sections with inwardly extending anges, pivot sockets embossed in the flanges of the side rails, pivotally adjustable cross wires having adjustment cranks and mounted in the sockets, sieve slats mounted on the wires, a rail removably mounted on the frame for holding the cross wires and slats in operative position and for permitting their removal for replacement and repairs, a slat adjustment mechanism mounted on the removable rail, the arrangement providing adjustment mechanism mounted entirely on the removable rail and independent of the frame to permit removal of the slats for replacement and repairs.

3. In a thresher screen having side and end rails, pivotally adjustable cross wires having adjustment cranks and mounted on the side rails,

sieve slats mounted on the wires, an intermediate rail mounted on the end rails for holding the cross wires and slats in operative position, an adjustment rack mounted in the cranks of the cross wires, a control arm connected with the rack, and adjustable anchor means mounted on the intermediate rail for holding the rack and slats in adjusted positions, said intermediate rail including upper and lower sections with said upper section projecting at the ends thereof over the end rails and detachably connected therewith and forming the sole support for the intermediate rail on the end rails, whereby upon detachment of said end connections, the intermediate rail and wires are removable as a unit from the side and end rails for replacement and repairs.

4. In a thresher screen having side and end rails, cross wires pivotally mounted on the side rails, sieve slats mounted on the wires, an intermecliate rail mounted on the end rails for holding the cross wires and slats in operative position, slat adjusting mechanism connected with the wires and mounted on the intermediate rail, said intermediate rail including upper and lower sections with one of said sections projecting at the ends thereof in overlapping relation with the end rails andrdetachably connected therewith and forming the sole support for the intermediate rail on the end rails, whereby upon detachment of said end connections the intermediate rail and wires are removable as a. unit from the side and end rails for replacement and repairs.

WILLIAM A. HOLTZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED IIhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Borchert Nov. 5, 1929 

